DENVER The University of Denver volleyball team (25-7, 14-4 SBC) fell to Western Kentucky (24-9, 12-5 SBC) in the first round of the SBC Volleyball Championships, hosted by Florida International University in Miami, Fla.

 

“I am very happy with the way this team has handled itself throughout the entire season and the successes that we were able to accomplish,” said head coach Beth Kuwata. “Of course it is unfortunate that we were unable to come away with a win, however I am extremely proud of our seniors and the commitment they made to bring our program to another level. We achieved many of the goals that we set at the start of the season and for that I am extremely pleased with this team’s effort.”

 

The Pioneers were led by junior Emmy Davidsmeyer’s (Colorado Springs, Colo.) nine kills, while senior Kerry Porter (Western Springs, Ill.) added eight kills on 16 attacks for a .438 hitting percentage. Also turning in eight kills for Denver was freshman Jordan Raines (Coppell, Texas), while setter Clare Maxwell (Western Springs, Ill.) finished with 29 assists.

 

Defensively, Denver was led by sophomore libero Kacie Wikierak’s (Crystal Lake, Ill.) 10 digs as Raines also added nine.

 

The Pioneers’ 25-7 overall record marks the best record in program history through32 matches. Denver also boasts an impressive 16-1 record in Hamilton Gymnasium, which sets another program mark for best home record since becoming Division I. Only one other team in the Pioneers’ history has posted more wins than this seasons’ squad as the 1991 Denver Pioneers finished with 27 wins.

 

With their win over North Texas on October 28th, the Pioneers captured their 20th win of the season, becoming only the sixth team in program history to break the 20+ win barrier. In Denver volleyball history, only five teams have finished with 20 or more wins in a season. (1991: 27-12; 1992: 21-14; 1993: 21-16; 1997: 21-11 (Kuwata); 2007: 22-12 (Kuwata))  Since joining NCAA DI in 1998 (SBC 1999), Denver has only posted one other 20+ win season as the Pioneers finished the 2007 season with a 22-12 overall record.

 

Picked to repeat as the West Division Champions, the Pioneers didn’t disappoint, as they captured their second consecutive title, fourth in program history, with their 3-0 defeat of Arkansas State on Sunday, Nov. 16 in Hamilton Gymnasium. Denver finished regular season conference play with an impressive 14-4 record (.778).

 

- PIONEERS -